100,000 people travel between Kerry and Germany

MORE than 100,000 passengers last year travelled on Ryanair flights between Germany and Kerry Airport.

About 30,000 of the passengers were Irish people going to Germany.

Year-round, daily flights are provided on the Frankfurt Hahn/Kerry route and each German visitor has an average spend of €350 per visit, according to Fáilte Ireland figures.

Kerry Airport spokesman Peter Bellew said that there was a large element of repeat business on the route, which had potential for further expansion. “Some Germans who have been using the service have settled in Kerry and strong links are being created between Kerry and the Frankfurt area all the time,” he said.

Linda Borchert, of the German National Tourist Office, said that there had been a 20% increase in numbers of Irish people travelling to Germany. According to the latest projections, passenger numbers through Kerry Airport, currently at 450,000, will increase to a million by 2011.

However, terminal facilities are inadequate to cope with passenger throughput and an €8 million investment is needed to bring the terminal and other facilities up to requirements.

The airport board is currently working on expansion plans, which are expected to be finalised later this year.

At present, the airport has four daily direct flights to Dublin, two daily flights to London and three flights a week direct to Manchester.